Leicht and Toto exhibiting at newly-rebranded kbb LDN

German kitchen furniture manufacturer Leicht and Japanese bathroom giant Toto are among more than 50 confirmed exhibitors at the newly rebranded kbb LDN (formerly kbbLondon) show.

According to the show's organiser, it is around 20 years since Leicht exhibited at a UK show and Toto has never appeared at any kbb exhibition.

In addition, the show has also confirmed Italian kitchen furniture manufacturer Arredo3 will be exhibiting for the first time in the UK.

These companies join the likes of Poggenpohl, Baumatic, Scavolini, Mark David, Abode, BK Nolte Contracts and Perrin & Rowe.

It will form part of The May Design Series, an umbrella event which includes three adjoining shows: Arc, a lighting event, DX which will focus on technology, and Interiors LDN.

It means visitors to kbb LDN will also be able to access the three additional, design-related events.

The May Design Series has been conceived for design professionals who work in residential and  commercial markets and is "realistically targeting 14,000 visitors" said brand director Andrew Vaughan.

The  interior and visitor experience of the May Design Series will be designed by Ab Rogers who created the look for Richard Rogers retrospective at The Pompidou Centre in Paris and the Comme des Garçons flagship store in France.

In total, The May Design Series will cover 20,000sqm, with half the space expected to be dedicated to kbb LDN.

kbb LDN, as part of The May Design Series, takes place at ExCel in London from May 19-21, 2013.

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KBB show..now tell!

As we gear up for the UK's largest kitchen and bathroom trade show, we ask brand director of UBM Andrew Vaughan what can we expect of KBB Birmingham? The show takes place at the NEC from March 4-7, 2012.

How does kbb Birmingham compare to the show in 2010 in terms of exhibitors and size?

It looks like we will finish level year-on-year and hit the targets we set ourselves in these challenging times. kbb Birmingham 2012 will have a great mix of new and old exhibitors and reflect what is happening in the markets we serve. Hopefully showing how resilient and enterprising these industries are.

How many visitors do you expect to attend?

Let’s be realistic, in these tough climates if we attract along the 16,000 visitors who attended 2010 with the same quality of retailers, specifiers, developers and interiors designers we will all be happy.

A criticism of kbb Birmingham in 2010 was the lack of bathroom manufacturer representation. What are you going to do to attract more bathroom exhibitors?

Our bathroom customers have told us their main challenge to exhibiting is money. They recognise the importance of kbb as a show, but they often find getting the required ROI difficult because they build large stands, which can prove to be expensive. In association with the Bathroom Manufacturers Association, we have just launched the BMA Pavilion. [It]allow BMA members to take get beautiful brand-friendly stand builds, for a third of the normal cost they would pay if they used an individual stand builder.

Another area specifically for bathroom exhibitors is Heart of Relaxation, where we are inviting exhibitors to create the ultimate bathing experience.

We appreciate that some bathroom companies are looking to move more into the contract market, so we will be exploring the future of this sector in Contract Spaces. Companies will create the ultimate space that inspires and educates a contract focussed audience of architects, designers and developers.

Tell us about the seminar programme…

From our extensive research, an overriding theme occurred of retail master classes, to give our retail audience insight into strategies that could help their business especially in this time of economic crisis. So were working with Econsultancy to provide a day of marketing masterclasses featuring ecommerce, website, email and digital - really cost effective things that all business can benefit from.

We’re also working with The Society of British Interior Designers SBID to provide sessions for interior designers and Global Color Research will present the latest information on trends.

For the full interview see the January issue of Kitchens & Bathrooms News.

KNOW YOUR TECH TUES: Taptile wireless lighting

Each Tuesday, we’re going to put under the microscope just one piece of tech that can add value to your kitchen and bathroom schemes and money to your bottom line

As a bathroom designer, looking to add value to a home, what better way to create a point of difference in your project and add to your profit with a lighting scheme? At the very premium end, it may mean working in conjunction with a specialist lighting consultation but for the rest of the bathroom market, Taptile suggests it has the answer.

It has recently created a ‘plug and play’ (for professional electricians, anyway) wireless touch-control for up to three lighting systems, including on-off switch for extractor fan (or even AV system) for £149.99 RRP. The system, which governs ambient and mood lighting, can be used with new lights or even with existing fittings and up to six Taptile controls can be used in one room.

It works using an 8mm sensor panel which fits behind ceramic, composite or wood. As it’s behind the decorative surface, it means that it doesn’t have to adhere to bathroom lighting zones. The system is 100% waterproof, so isn’t dependent on the quality of the grouting, and opens up design opportunities to have lighting, extractor or AV controls in the shower or next to the washbasin or bath.

Customised control 'panel'

The Taptile Elegance Mood Lighting system features six touch points, which can be etched into bathroom tiles using a kit – or designers can go to town creating their own customised ‘buttons’, such as mosaics or shells.

Taptile has already received acclaim in the market, having been named a finalist for the Product Innovation Award at the recent KBBLondon exhibition and it is soon to introduce a system for kitchens too!